(A) A Sheriff’s Merit Board is hereby created and shall hereafter be known as the “Howard County Sheriff’s Merit Board.” The Board shall hereafter have all of the powers and duties set out in I.C. 36-8-10-3, and the terms of this statute shall be binding upon the County Sheriff, his or her successors, and the County Police Force created and defined in § 32.01.
(B) The Sheriff’s Merit Board shall consist of five members. Three members shall be appointed by the Sheriff, and two members shall be elected by a majority vote of the members of the County Police Force under procedures established by the Sheriff’s Merit Board; however, an active county police officer, a relative (as defined in I.C. 26-1-20.2-8) of an active county police officer, or a relative (as defined in I.C. 26-1-20.2-8) of the sheriff may not serve on the Sheriff’s Merit Board, either as a member appointed by the sheriff or elected by the county police force. The term of membership shall be as set forth in I.C. 36-8-10-3 (see also the “Compiler’s Notes” following I.C. 36-8-10-3 for regulations as to the original term). No more than two members appointed by the Sheriff nor more than one of the members elected by the officers may belong to the same political party. All members shall reside in the county. All members shall serve during their respective terms and until their respective successors have been appointed and qualified. Any member may be removed for cause duly adjudicated by declaratory judgment of the circuit court.
(C) As compensation for his or her service, each member of the Sheriff’s Merit Board shall be entitled to receive from the county the sum of $15 per day for each and every day, or fraction thereof during which he or she is engaged in transaction of the business of the Sheriff’s Merit Board. As soon as practicable after the members of the Sheriff’s Merit Board shall have been appointed, they shall meet upon the call of the Sheriff, and shall organize by the election of a President and a Secretary from among their own membership. Three members of the Sheriff’s Merit Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The Sheriff’s Merit Board shall hold such regular monthly meetings throughout the year as may be deemed necessary to transact the business of the Police Force.
(D) The Sheriff’s Merit Board is hereby authorized to transfer the sidearm of a County Deputy killed in the line of duty to his or her surviving spouse, regardless of the officer’s eligibility for retirement benefits.
(`83 Code, § 32.14) (Ord. 1969-11A, passed 9-4-69; Am. Ord. 2016 BCCO-13, passed 4-18-16)
Statutory reference:
Sheriff’s merit board, see I.C. 36-8-10-3